Hydrapak, a leading global supplier of active-lifestyle hydration equipment, has been granted a summary judgment of non-infringement in a lawsuit filed by Source Vagabond Systems in August 2011.  Not only was the suit dismissed in its entirety, but the associated motion for Rule 11 Sanctions against Source Vagabond was also granted.

Judge Coleen McMahon stated in her decision, “The Court grants defendant’s motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint because defendant’s product does not infringe plaintiff’s patent.”  In granting the motion to award sanctions, Judge McMahon of the United States District Court, Southern District of New York, noted that while “I and so many of my colleagues bridle at the flood of Rule 11 motions that arrive on our doorsteps,” in this case the sanctions were warranted because “this case is simply not close on the merits.”  The hearing to determine the amount of sanctions to be awarded to Hydrapak has been referred to the Hon. James L. Cott, United States Magisrate Judge.

“We feel passionately about our intellectual property and innovation efforts, and the findings of the United States District Court are validation of our work,” said Matt Lyon, CEO of Hydrapak. “We are glad to put this lawsuit behind us and continue to do what we do best; provide superior hydration systems for Hydrapak’s enthusiasts around the globe.”

The lawsuit, which contended that the top closure system used in Hydrapak’s Reversible Reservoir II infringed upon Source Vagabond’s patent, was found to be invalid and was dismissed.  In fact, Hydrapak last year was awarded its own patent on its unique and novel closure method.